Whether you’re relocating across the street or several states over, moving is sure to be a stressful activity. You’ll likely want to hire a company that can make your moving process easier by providing a range of basic and convenience services. No matter your needs, the pros at Mayflower transit will be able to provide top-level assistance on your move date. Read our review to learn more about the following:
- Mayflower’s service offerings
- What customers thought of their Mayflower move
- How much you should expect to pay for your move
Our Mayflower Review
Mayflower Transit has been a force in the moving industry since its founding in 1927. It began as a residential mover but quickly moved into the corporate and military moving spaces as it expanded. Since 1995, it has been a member of UniGroup, meaning it now comprises a large part of one of the largest moving networks in the U.S.
Mayflower Transit provides a range of full-service and small move options for clients in any situation. Its versatility and many years of experience in the business make it easy for Mayflower to adapt to almost any moving situation. When you hire professional movers from Mayflower, you’ll be treated to a range of specialty services, GPS tracking, and a dedicated moving coordinator to assist you in all phases of your move.
The drawback to booking a move with this provider is the lack of uniformity across its many locations. With hundreds of local agents throughout the U.S., you’ll have to look into location-specific reviews before booking. Doing so will help you avoid pitfalls such as shoddy workmanship and deviations from your original contract. In short, each Mayflower location is only as good as its reviews.
Pros & Cons of Moving with Mayflower
Pros
- Nationwide network that can provide moving services almost anywhere
- GPS shipment tracking provided for most moves
- Multiple protection options for full-service moves available
- Snapmoves program expedites small moves of all distances
Cons
- Works through local agents and subcontractors for many of its moves
- Varied customer experiences for quality
How Much Does Mayflower Moving Cost?
Mayflower prices its moves similarly to its competitors. Local moves (typically less than 50 miles) are billed hourly. Long-distance moving costs are determined using shipping weight and move distance.
Add-on services do, of course, factor into your final costs. For local moves, specialty tasks such as packing, unpacking, or furniture disassembly are paid for in the form of increased labor time. For longer moves, you may be looking at an added flat fee. More unique tasks, such as crating or specialty item moving, could also incur material costs. Here are a few other factors that could affect the price of your Mayflower move:
- Season: Summer moves are likely to cost more. The moving season peaks between May and September, which could sometimes lead to higher rates for any relocation service.
- Advance booking: Booking your move well ahead of time will help ensure that you can book with your mover of choice and that you’ll avoid elevated rates and convenience fees.
- Ease of access: Flights of stairs or long carries between your moving truck and home at either end of your move could incur fees, which should be discussed during the quote process.
We’ve listed some average rates for local and long-distance moving here.
| 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | |
| Local | $1,200 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,750 |
| 250 mi | $2,750 | $3,800 | $5,100 | $6,000 |
| 500 mi | $3,100 | $4,100 | $6,000 | $6,700 |
| 1000 mi | $3,500 | $4,500 | $6,400 | $8,400 |
| 2000 mi | $4,300 | $4,900 | $6,800 | $9,000 |
| 2500 mi | $4,800 | $5,100 | $7,100 | $10,000 |
| 3000 mi | $5,100 | $6,000 | $8,750 | $11,250 |
Protection Plan Fees
Mayflower also offers full-service packages with additional protection. These moving plans are ideal for any customers with specialty or fragile items who would like a little added peace of mind. Each comes with a flat fee, to be added to your move cost.
Option 1 – $225
- $5,000 additional value protection
- Gold Standard Protection (inquire during the quote process)
- Identity Theft Protection
- Claims assist
Option 2 – $425
- Option 1 services, plus:
- $25,000 additional value protection
- Debris removal
- Additional delay claim payment ($250 per day)
Option 3 – $725
- Option 1 services, plus:
- $25,000 additional value protection
- Basic wall mount disassembly for up to two TVs
- Basic wall mount setup for up to two TVs
- Additional delay claim payment ($250 per day)
What Moving Services Does Mayflower Offer?
Mayflower’s service offerings allow it to function as a moving solution for clients in any situation. Whether you’re moving a studio apartment or a large home, this provider likely has a full-service move option.
Local Moving
Mayflower’s network of local agents can provide top service for moves of 50 miles or less within the same state. These moving packages can be as involved as the client needs to specify, including home theater installation, piano moving, packing, and more. Even if your move only takes you a short way, it can be a very involved process. Mayflower’s moving pros can make the entire process easy for you.
Long-Distance Moving
Long-distance moving with Mayflower can be pretty easy. With mix-and-match services, including storage options, full-service packing, and more, you’ll be able to let your local Mayflower affiliate handle things from start to finish.
Military Moving
Mayflower is GSA-approved for all military moving needs. This makes them an excellent option for temporary and permanent station changes for service members and their families. In just the last decade, Mayflower has helped more than 225,000 military personnel transition to new homes, giving them all the experience necessary to help you.
Corporate Relocation
Whether you’re a business owner who needs special packing and handling services for your office equipment, or an employee moving on a company stipend, Mayflower has you covered. Get a quote to learn how your commercial move could be enhanced by using this nationwide provider.
International Moving
Mayflower provides international moves via a network that spans more than 150 countries worldwide. Along with the add-ons mentioned above, your international move coordinator can assist with customs and citizenship paperwork. No matter where you’re headed, the pros at Mayflower can make the process easier.
Snapmoves
This program may interest you if yours is a small move — either a studio apartment or a small home. All Snapmoves quotes include a dedicated move coordinator, full value protection, disassembly and reassembly of furniture, and any add-on you could need. All services are then provided at a single, easy-to-understand price.
Other Add-Ons
Most Mayflower Moving companies can provide a full range of add-on services. You’ll be able to pick and choose exactly which will be a good fit for your move. These include:
- Full-service packing
- Debris pickup and removal
- Auto transport
- Storage services (short and long-term)
- Antique moving
- Furniture assembly and disassembly
- And more
Service Area & Availability
Mayflower operates through more than 500 direct affiliates and local agents throughout 46 states. These include:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
How To Schedule With Mayflower
Booking with any mover will start with a moving quote. Simply fill out a contact form on Mayflower’s website, or contact a representative via its phone number, 1-877-720-4066, to get the ball rolling. During the initial phase, you’ll be asked to supply some basic information about your move, including:
- Current and destination zip codes
- The number of bedrooms in your home
- Access information (parking lots or extra flights of stairs)
- Add-on or specialty services needed
Then, you’ll have to schedule an in-person or virtual consultation with a move coordinator. This will include a visual component of some kind to ensure accurate pricing. Begin looking into movers in your area around eight weeks ahead of your move. Once you’ve gotten a few quotes, aim to have your move booked at least a month in advance.
Before you book with any mover, you should be sure to check that their registration and insurance are up to date. This should include asking for proof of the following:
- FMCSA registration: All movers providing long-distance or interstate moving services have to be registered with the FMCSA. They will also have to carry valid USDOT and MC numbers, which should be displayed on all trucks and moving contracts.
- State registration: Many states will have their governing body regulating mover licensing and tariffs. You should look into this to ensure that your provider is fully registered and above board.
- Released liability and full value protection: Released liability coverage provides the bare minimum for reimbursement if goods are lost or damaged. At $0.60 per pound per item, this won’t cover the full value of most goods. However, most movers offer valuation coverage at an added cost.
- Workers’ compensation coverage: This is a requirement for any mover and protects you in the event of a work-related injury during your move. Most movers will have the necessary proof of this on their website.
Mayflower Reviews From Actual Customers
When comparing movers, customer reviews will be your single most valuable asset. When you get a quote from any moving company, you can expect the best treatment and customer care they have to offer. Since this is the final step in the booking process, a given mover will be putting its best foot forward to get you to book.
Reviews, however, will give you a far more accurate picture of how a given provider actually does business. No matter how good a mover appears to be on paper, you should still do a deep dive into reviews from multiple sources, including Google, Yelp, social media, and Better Business Bureau. This will give you a complete picture of any mover’s customer care.
Nick’s Austin, Texas to Memphis, Tennessee move went pretty well, per his review on My Moving Reviews:
“I told myself I would write a review no matter what since it was so hard to find good reviews, but we had a very pleasant experience with Mayflower. Keep in mind that Mayflower is probably not moving your stuff. They deal with local moving companies who do the actual moving, so you can have a very different experience depending on the crew you get. I’m sure Mayflower takes a cut, so you could probably get it done cheaper going directly to the local companies, but in our case, it was a huge benefit that Mayflower connected us with very good movers. They packed everything extremely carefully and were very professional, with no damage, not even a chip of paint in the process. Again, remember that Mayflower is connecting you with a team of movers, not actually moving your stuff, so results may vary. I would strongly recommend asking ahead of time what moving company they’re using and looking up reviews for that specific company.
I have seen lots of complaints about valuable items getting stolen. We didn’t experience this, but we also didn’t ship any super valuable items. I would say just don’t do this, or have them fully insured (Mayflower gives you the option to do this). You have to remember, the people actually doing the moving are probably making $10-15 an hour on a part-time gig, so if they see a $30k Rolex in a drawer and know it’s not on the list, that’s a pretty strong temptation.”
John’s Nebraska to Washington state move had its share of positives and negatives but highlighted the importance of reading contracts before booking:
“Read the contract closely!
When the move-out day arrived, I learned our household goods would be going into storage until the carrier could arrive. In 7 moves, this is the only time this has happened. Every other move has been door-to-door. This means that my household goods were loaded onto a trailer at my house, unloaded into a warehouse, reloaded back onto a separate trailer, and then unloaded at my new home. The risk of damage is obviously higher.
My household goods were damaged, dirty, or both. Much of obviously from the warehouse.
Now, I must say, we had pictures of our household goods before and after, and we took the time to file an extensive claim, and Mayflower did settle that claim properly and honestly.
We paid for packers, and they did a great job. The loaders on the move-out day also did a great job. The delivery was a bit rushed, and frankly, the driver only hired one helper (out of his pocket), so more bad news on the delivery. But again, they settled for the damage done.
So the contract is key. They give you a delivery window. That is their “get out of jail free” card. I anticipated a door-to-door move, and from the estimator’s consultation, I thought that’s what I was going to get. But they were NOT contractually bound to do that (in the fine print), so they didn’t.
Also, Mayflower is really Unigroup, a large conglomerate that includes United. Another point on this topic, the local places are more like franchises; they are quasi-independent, so your experiences may vary.”
The Good
Mayflower, at its best, turns moving into a fairly stress-free experience. Good reviews mention the relative ease of working with Mayflower crews and the quality of the labor and add-on services. This provider’s large network, shipment tracking, and general versatility make moving with them a solid choice for most.
The Bad
Mayflower operates through third-party companies and local agents, which can sometimes dilute the overall quality this mover can bring to the table. Negative reviews report damaged or lost goods. Another common complaint is that delivery windows are not totally reliable for longer moves.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mayflower Moving
Are United and Mayflower the same company?
United Van Lines and Mayflower are both owned by UniGroup. Although these companies are distinct entities, pricing between the two will be fairly similar in many cases. Since they are owned by the same parent company means that booking with Mayflower or United grants you access to one of the nation’s largest moving networks.
Does Mayflower require a deposit?
Moving with Mayflower does not require that you put a deposit down. Once you’ve signed your move contract and given your credit card information, you will not be billed until services have been rendered. For most long-distance moves, you’ll be billed half of the final total once the load-up is complete, with the other half due on arrival at your new home.
How are packing services billed?
If you’ve requested packing as an add-on for a long-distance move, then labor and supply costs will be folded into your final total. If you’re getting packing help as a standalone service or as part of a local move, you’ll be charged hourly rates for the labor and any material costs for boxes, tape, packing paper, etc.
How long should I expect a cross-country move to take?
Your movers should be able to cover around 400 miles per day in their trucks. Due to DOT drive time restrictions, you shouldn’t expect them to exceed this too often. If your movers are handling other moves along your move route, then you should budget a couple of extra days of time to account for this.
Today's Homeowner Rating Methodology
At Today's Homeowner, our primary goals are to be a reliable source of information and to be totally transparent to our readers. With that in mind, we’ve developed the following formula to render objective ratings – on a scale of 10 points – for the moving companies we review.
- Transparency (3.0): Communication and being fully straightforward regarding company policies and licensing are incredibly important. A given mover’s willingness to display these, to supply quick quotes, and to provide clearly-worded moving contracts all factor into the three points within this single rating criteria.
- Cost (2.5): A mover’s cost relative to industry averages, as well as accessibility to cost data play a role in the customer experience as much as anything else. We know that being sure of what you’re paying – and being confident that you’re not overpaying – will ultimately make for a positive move. We’ve weighted cost factors accordingly in our ratings.
- Customer Service (2.0): Establishing an easy line of contact with your movers during the booking process or during the move itself is a huge asset for any moving client. The stress of moving, in general, can be greatly eased by knowing you can talk to a licensed professional whenever you need to, which is why we’ve listed this as a key rating category. This is where customer reviews come into play; since the majority of complaints stem from poor customer service, feedback from BBB, Yelp, Google, and other review platforms factor into this criteria.
- Services Offered (1.5): This rates lower on our priority list than many would think, simply due to the fact that many movers provide a similar line of services. However, breadth of service offerings does still vary to a degree.
- Customization Options (1.0): Having the autonomy to fully customize your move should rate highly on any moving checklist. Here, we’ve taken moving package customization ability, as well as pricing for more involved add-ons. Steep pricing for such services can provide something of a soft barrier for clients looking to add to their move, and we’ve taken this into consideration.
